Volvo’s first EV will be built in China, exported to the world

Volvo has confirmed its first ever commercially available pure electric vehicle will be built in China.

In a statement, Volvo said its first EV will go on sale in 2019, and will be made in China for both local and global consumption.

The Volvo EV will be based on the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), which will serve as the basis of the upcoming XC40 crossover, S40 sedan and V40 hatch or wagon, as well as the Lynk & Co 01 SUV and 03 sedan.

According to Volvo, the decision to make its first pure electric vehicle in China stems from the fact that China is already the world’s largest market for electrified cars. The government is incentivising EV and hybrid cars as a way of reducing the chronic pollution problems plaguing its numerous large cities.

Ford sold Volvo Cars to Chinese car maker Geely in 2010 as part of the Blue Oval’s dismantling of its Premier Automotive Group, which at one stage also included Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover.

It’s unknown at this stage whether Volvo’s first EV will share a body shell with its next-generation 40-Series brethren, or whether it will sport a completely unique design.

Earlier this year, Lex Kerssemakers, head of Volvo Car USA, told Automotive News the new EV would need a driving range of 400km, and a starting price between US$35,000 and US$40,000 ($46,600 and $53,200) in order to be a success Stateside.

If Volvo’s first EV does indeed have these specifications, it would be compete directly with the Chevrolet Bolt and the upcoming Tesla Model 3.

In addition to the CMA-based EV, Volvo is also developing an electric car based on the Scalable Product Architecture, which is used on the larger XC60, XC90, S90 and V90 models.

The company hopes to sell a combined total of one million plug-in hybrids and pure EVs by 2025.